For the first quarter Asean apparel exports to the US surged by 0.95 per cent in export volumes while value-wise it escalated by 1.38 per cent.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is a 10-nation bloc.

Readymade apparel exports from Vietnam to the US grew 3.32 per cent yearly. Cotton and manmade fiber apparel exports were up 0.73 per cent and 6.25 per cent respectively.

On the other hand, Indonesia’s apparel exports to the US fell 5.78 per cent. Indonesia also fell drastically in volumes by 8.26 per cent.

Cambodia’s apparel exports to the US jumped 12.52 per cent. Volume-wise, Cambodia marked growth by 12.75 per cent.

Philippines was down by 9.41 per cent and 5.98 per cent in value and volume of apparel exports to the United States respectively.

Malaysia export volume fell 13.85 per cent and export value fell ten per cent. Thailand’s export volume was 1.94 per cent and value was up 2.40 per cent.

The textile and clothing industry is one of the important manufacturing industries in Asean countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand.

Garments produced by Cambodia are mainly exported to the United States and the European Union. Indonesia’s exports of clothing account for about 70 per cent of the country’s total exports of clothing and textiles.